Louis P. Cain, author of Chicago before the Fire: An Economic History, answers questions about his new book.
Q: Why did you decide to write this book?
I have researched various aspects of Chicago history over much of my career beginning with my doctoral dissertation. In retirement I began reading early Chicago history, one of the aspects that had not been part of my research. In the pandemic, I decided to put all the elements of Chicago’s pre-Fire economic history together.
Q: What is the most interesting discovery you made while researching and writing your book?
To me, that discovery was William Burnett whose significant role in Chicago history may never be completely revealed. An amusing discovery was Seth Paine’s Bank of Chicago.
Q: What myths do you hope your book will dispel or what do you hope your book will help readers unlearn?
Over the past several decades, it has become accepted that the Chicago River reversal was the result of the Chicago Sanitary District opening the Sanitary & Ship Canal in 1900. In fact, it was informally reversed in the 1850s, and the first formal reversal was in 1871.
Q: Which part of the publishing process did you find the most interesting?
Discovering new facts and theories as part of the research process.
Q: What is your advice to scholars/authors who want to take on a similar project?
The hardest thing in publication is deciding when to stop reading and start writing. Given there’s a continual flow of new ideas, it’s best to start writing somewhat earlier than you might think, then be willing to revise what you’ve written as new material appears.
Q: What do you like to read/watch/or listen to for fun?
The vast majority of what I watch is sports. I try to always be reading a book for pleasure; among my favorite authors are David Lodge and Richard Russo. I usually have classical music playing when I’m working. In the car, it’s more likely music from the mid-30s to the early 80s. “The Great American Songbook” is what I performed in small groups many years ago and remains a particular favorite.
Louis P. Cain is an adjunct professor of economics at Northwestern University and a professor emeritus at Loyola University Chicago. He is the coauthor of The Children of Eve: Population and Well-being in History.